Electric discharge device



July 20, 1948. LEMMERS 2,445,678

ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1942 lnven tor Eu ene Lemmers, b vdbe WM His A'k'borhey.

Patented July 20, 1948 U ITED sures P or ies Eugene,- Lemmers,, Cleveland Heights, Ohim, as signor.to'GeneraliElectricCompany, a corpora tion of New York.

Application February 12, 1-942; sedative. 4305593- Claims: (on airs-208) This invention. relates: tosthe 'moduiatiorr ofi an electricv discharge, and: is; especially? concerned with controlling; the relatiom between variation of the discharge current; and resulting; variation in. theintensity of therradiation; Visible or other wise,-v .fr.omthddiseharge; .The invention permits of; constructing ai modulatable discharge rlam'pfi'n which the intensity or-br.i'11iance' of. radiatiorr from the discharge :varies: in a; greater proportion.-than the dischargecurrent, and; desired; in? a very largeyproportion. Provision can? hemade'i to ad justrandrvar at pleasure; the proportionaltrelm tion. between. variation: of dischargez' currentuand corresponding variation I ofiiintensityofi radiation; The invention is? useful: in; connection withi the translation of electrical signals derived rameer nomenaof almost any. kind: into light or other radiation, and; is particularlm applicable; todisscharge devices on lampsresembling; the? type known as craterlamps.

; discharge, device: or lampymaycomprisea cathode and a i mainanode; spaced in frontlof t'he cathode and sor arrangeda preferiablygthafl the discharge between. cathode: and: anode is :visible. end-on past the -latter, 3n positives column discharge being preferred and-'disclosedl'andtrclaimedl herein, although: the principle.- involved in; this invention ma-y be applied; t0.;1ampsi"?0ffthe well known negativer glow type; and: disclosed? and claimed in my divisional applicatiomSerialxNoi 551 ,793- filedAugustv 30, 19444:; Brovision'.-or: modulating th potential-.1differencesand; the total discharge current in thelamp may bes. made in any? suitable manner, in acoordanceiwithtany desired phenomenon or signal: For: thepuizposes ofimy inventions; another anode or control elctrodemay a1so.-be providedzswithimeansfor'ma' taming a. potential-- difference. and a'sresulting dis charge-= between the.' cathode and'thisother anodef from. the samea'sourceof potenti'alras that a'cti ng between? the cathodei and? the mam anodet I Ac cordingly'; a: part" of? the. discharge is diverted "or bledr'oir" from the maimdischarge (out of-"its-path" to the main anode-)irragreatr or-less'propor tion, with there'sult that-the end oniintensity of the radiation fromthe main discharge. Varies. in" a greater proportion: than does the; totaLidisecharge current: One wa ofaccomplishing; is" to. connect the other .anode to. the, main anode throughcairesistance; and one..way. ofvaryingtha proportional relation betweem variatiom of; the. total dis charge. current 1 and: correspondingva-r-ias tion of intensity of iradiationzista vary oriadiusta 2. structionsz-mawbe emploiyed; several of which will be:illustratedcaciwexplainedx;

Still? other? features and" advantages; of. the in:- vention willxappear from the following; descrin tiom of? speciesi and forms of embodiment; and fromxhd drawings;

Inc the; drawings; Fig. 1* a general diagrammatictviewi ofi a.=signallihg. systenr radvantage ously? embodying; my invention in simple? form; an'drE-ig: 2 isr-aztiltedorperspectivavieW of ai lamp or f discharge device. suitably: embodying: features such asrepreser-itedinF-ig: 1-,

Fig.1 35 1's: a diagrammatic view of a. discharge device! embodyingthe: invention? in: a more high-1y developed. form resembling. that illustratedin Fig: killtistrates:myzinventibn as used'in ar-svs'e tenrrzwherersi'gnals int-the form of. electrical-1m;- pulsesioff varlyin'grintensitye'receive'd frorma source S; arewtoi-be translated into luminous or: other radiation? of varyingrintensity-whichacts orr' any desiredl" receiving: system? or: resrions'we =means: R fomdisplayinggor registering the same, here 'i'llusttratediastihclud g a foc'usingz-lens F ande aiphotof sensitive chart 'c carriedby arevolving' cylinder responsive. to thezlightspoti from the lens F2 Electrical eamplifying? means may be interposed between the: sigma/1 source S and. the.-= lamp? being; here; illustratew as a vacuum turner T for producing; substantially? distortion-less. amplifica ti'om This tube isshownconnectediin the usual manner tel-receive signals-from 'thesource Sr-thnoughi an--input :circuit- I I and to" feedi the amplifiedeoutput to. the electrical discharge r de vicaonlamprl'ramroughian outputcircuit Ms. A suitables Dy 0;, source of discharge current: B for the discharge device or lamp L is shown'econ nectedabetweenr the: lamp cathode-I5 and anode lfiethroughwa power circuit l1,'.-the amplifien"I-; and-the; amplifier output circuit I 2.

.As-shown in Figs: 1---and*2, the dis-charge. device on lamp-1L. com-prisesa-.-glassenvelope 2-.0 BIIGIOS-y in ithei-cathodet-lStand-the anode 1.6; .which are spaced apart to-permit a-positivecolumndis charge betweenethemn Adjacent or around the.

pathof:discharge-between-these electrodes L5; 1.5,

otherianode means 23 are provided, and maybe construotedwassa-tube-like positive-columnchan-;

net-on crater of conductive". material; like sheets metals The: anode l'iir'is' so arrangedth'atwthc:

positive rcolumn disch'arge" inside" the. crater 2-31 isrpotentiallyr or. actually? visible end-on past it: from (this en'dx of; the envelope: 2 0; in' whole or in arts. Asw'shownp-this anode-16 t; annular and this; resistance. Variousrarrangementsiandicon;- 551" coaxtalt withr thei crai-ierr nf and the cathode i as Well as with the envelope 20, in a plane perpendicular to the common axis of the parts. Thus the luminous or other radiation from the positive column discharge shines from inside the crater 23 endwise through the anode 16 on the receiving system R. The envelope 20 may contain a low-pressure atmosphere of starting gas, such as argon at a pressure of some 0.5 to 20 mm. of mercury, and may also contain a vaporizable and ionizable working substance such as mercury, here indicated by a supply droplet 24 inside the envelope, which may exceed the amount that will vaporize during operation of the lamp L. The crater or anode 23 is electrically connected to the anode I6 through a connection 25, shown as including an adjustable resistance 26 located outside the envelope 26, and also a portion of the circuit l1.

One suitable construction of the lamp L that is schematically shown in Fig. 1 is illustrated in some detail in Fig. 2. As there shown, the envelope 20 is a cylindrical glass bulb with the usual stem and flare construction 21 at one end, including a, press 28 through which are sealed the circuit wires l2, I1, 25, and an additional wire 29. Between the ends of the leads I2 and 29 (just in front of the stem press 28) is connected a resistance heater 30 such as a coiled coil of fine tungsten wire, which serves to maintain a fairly constant temperature of the envelope 26, and a fairly constant pressure of mercury vapor th'erein, notwithstanding the wide variations of the discharg current incident to the operation of the device. Preferably the rear end of the bulb 20 is somewhat extended, as shown, to give an exposed area outside the lamp base and socket (not shown) for atmospheric cooling to help maintain a reasonable and sufficiently constant mercury vapor pressure in the bulb. Th'e leads I2, 29 may be connected to any suitable source of heating current, as diagrammatically indicated at A in Fig. 2. The cathode l here shown is what is known as a cold cathode, consisting of a cylinder of metallic thorium that extends diametrally across the envelope 26 at a considerable distance i in front of the heater 30 and is supported at one end by its connection to the lead wire l2. Any heating efiect of the coil 30 on the cathode I5 is insufllcient to affect the essential action of the latter, and does not render it thermionically emissive. As a matter of fact, indeed, a thermionic cathode might be disadvantageous, by giving rise to electrical oscillations or variations of the discharge current and the radiation from the discharge that would distort the desired modulated output from the device as received by the system R.

The main anode I 6 and the other anode or crater 23 are shown as associated with a transverse circular insulative disc 33 of any suitable ceramic material (such as lava, for example) which fits rather loosely into the cylindrical bulb 20. As here shown, the part 23 consists of a flanged metal sleeve (e. g., nickel) fitted into a central hole in the disc 33, coaxial with the envelope 26, with its flange at the outer or front side of the disc. The main anode I6 is shown as made in the form of a centrally apertured sheet metal dome (e. g., nickel) lying edgewise against the disc 33, around and in front of the flange of the part 23. The lead wires I1, 25 spread outward from the stem press 28 and extend forward through countersunk holes in the disc 33, being covered with vitreous or ceramic insulation 34 which extends from the press- 28 4 into the enlarged rear ends of the holes. In front of the disc 33, the bare ends of the wires ll, 25 are bent inward to the parts l6 and 23, to which they are welded, the part 23 having a notch 35 in its edge to pass the lead 25 with safe clearance. The leads ll, 25 with their insulative coverings 34 serve to hold the disc 33 in fixed position in the envelope 20, as Well as the parts I6 and 23. The disc 33'is shown as pierced with a number of holes 36 to permit free passage of the operating atmosphere of mercury and starting gas.

Inoperation, the discharge current in the lamp L is proportional to the signal intensity from S. The intensity of the endwise radiation from the discharge toward the receiving system R depends on the discharge current and also on the axial length or depth of the positive column. In the absence of the anode means 23 with its connection 25, the discharge would always extend in full strength clear to the anode IS; in other words, its length would be constant and its intensity would vary in sole dependence on the discharge current. However, the resistance 26 in the connection 25 makes the part 23 an anode or control electrode means of lower potential relative to th cathode l5 than the main anode l6, so that part Of the discharge goes to this part 23, shortening the discharge and diminishing its end-on intensity of radiation. The degree to which this takes place depends on the magnitude of the resistance 26 in the connection 25, as well as on the position of the part 23 and its area per unit of length. If the effective resistance 26 were zero, all the discharge would go to the part 23; if it were infinite, or virtually so, all the discharge would go to the main anode l6.

The anode means or conductive channel 23 around the discharge also affects its visible brightness or intensity ofendwise radiation in another way. Being positive relative to the discharge Where it surrounds it, the part 23 enlarges the cross section of the discharge Within it, and dims its intensity of endwise radiation. The positive potential of the part 23 relative to the discharge within it depends, of course, on the Value of the resistance 26, and can be increased by reducing this resistance, and vice versa. This efifect, therefore, supplements that of the diversion of discharge current from the main anode l6 to the part 23 as just described.

Whatever the value of the resistance 26, the effect of the part 23 and the connection'25 on the current-light curve of the device is subtractive in the sense that the light for a given discharge current flowing in the circuit I1 is reduced. Naturally, this effect is proportionally greater for low currents, since the smaller the current flow, the greater the proportion of it that can be accommodated by the path via the part 23 and the resistance 26, which gives rise to a lower intensity of radiation than an equal current via the main anode l6. Accordingly, the lower end of the current-light curve is depressed very greatly in proportion to its height above zero, while the upper end of this curve is scarcely affected. Thus the connection 25 with its resistance 26 makes the end-on intensity of radiation toward the receiving system R vary in a greater ratio than the discharge current, and'this ratio can be altered by adjusting the resistance 26. For example, in a device such as shown in Fig. 2 constructed as described hereinafter, a reduction of the discharge current to one fourteenth its initial value reduced the end-on luminous intensity to one-twelfth its initial value with the connection 25 open-cir animate 3. edited, but reduced this luminous intensity to one thirtieth its initialyalue with a resistance 26 of an elf'ective value of 75,000 ohms in the closed connection 25. l

Fig. 3 shows a discharge device L similar to that in Figs. 1 and 2 but having the anode means forming the positive column channel or crater longer relative to the distance between the main electrodes l5, [6 than in Figs. 1 and 2, and divided transversely into a series of conductive annular sections23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, electrically separat or insulated from one another. These sections 23a, 28b, 23c, 23d are connected to the main anode I6 through. connections 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d of dinerent resistances, shown as leading to difierent points thatcan be adjusted along the potentiometer voltage divider 26.11. This arrangement gives a very flexible and-wide adjustment of the ratio between variation of end-on radiation intensity and corresponding discharge current.

For the convenience of those desiring to practice the invention, essential illustrative particulars of a discharge device such as shown in Fig. 2 are here given:

The bulb or envelope 20 may be of about 1 inch internal diameter and 2 inches long, with a sub;- stantially flat front end, and the stem 2.! and its press 28 may extend forward into the interior of the bulb, about 1% inches. The rear side of the disc 33 may be about A inch in front of the press 28; the disc may be about inch thick; and the sleeve '23 may have this same axial length and an internal diameter of about 0.2 inch. The cathode bar I? maybe about inch long and inch in diameter, with its axis 5 2 inch behind the rear side of the disc 33. The anode l6 may be of about 7 inch diameter, with a central hole of 0.2 inch diameter, and its dome height from the front side of the disc 33 may be about inch. The coil may be spaced about A. inch behind the oathode E5, on centers, and may consist of a (straight) length of 8 mil tungsten Wire between the leads I2, 29 with a cold resistance of 0.4 ohm, the diameter of the major coiling being about a"; inch. There may be some dozen or more of the disc holes 36, each of about #2 inch diameter or more.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A gaseous electric discharge lamp comprising a sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, a cathode and an anode connected to a source of potential and arranged to sustain therebetween a positive column discharge visible end-on past the anode, means for modulating the potential difference and the discharge current, a control electrode of hollow form surrounding the discharge path between said cathode and anode, and means to connect said control electrode in parallel with said anode and to bias it to a potential substantially difierent from that of the anode so that the intensity of radiation from the discharge varies in an appreciably greater proportionthan the current input to the lamp.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control electrode is divided transversely into a plurality of sections which are positively biased in decreasing degree from the anode toward the cathode.

3. A gaseous electric discharge lamp of the positive column type comprising a sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, an annular insulating disc extending transversely across the interior of said envelope, a cathode located behind the opening in said disc, an annular anode located in front of said disc in axial alignment with the opening in said disc, and a cylindrical control electrode lining the opening insaid disc and surrounding the discharge path between said cathode and anode.

4. A gaseous electric discharge lamp comprising aa sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, an annular insulating disc extending transversely across the interior of said envelope, a cathode locatedbehind the Opening in said disc,- an annular anode located in front of said disc in axial alignment with the opening in said disc, and a cylindrical control electrode lining the opening-in said disc, a pair of conductors sealed in the back end of said envelope and extending forwardly throughsaid disc to support it in place, said anode and control electrode being electrically connected one to each of said conductors, and athird conductor sealed in the back end of said envelope and extending to said cathode tosupport it in place. 5. A gaseous electric discharge lamp comprising a sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, a cathode and an anode connected to a source of potential and arranged to sustain therebetween an ionic discharge visible end-on past the anode, means for modulating the potential difference and'the discharge current, and electrode means spaced axially intermediate said cathode and anode and closely adjacent the discharge path therebetween to render the intensity of radiation from the discharge appreciably disproportional .to the current input to the lamp by diverting current from the anode.

6. A gaseous electric discharge lamp comprising a sealed envelope containing an icnizablc medium, a cathode and an anode connected to a source of potential and arranged to sustain therebetween an ionic discharge visible end-on past the anode, means for modulating the potential diiference and the discharge current, and

means to render the intensity of radiation from the discharge appreciably disproportional to the current input to the lamp by diverting current from the anode including a control electrode spaced axially intermediate said cathode and anode and closely adjacent the discharge path therebetween and having a substantial area in operative relation with said discharge and means to connect said control electrode in parallel with said anode and to bias it to a potential substantially different from that of the anode.

'7. A gaseous electric discharge lamp comprising a sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, a cathode and an anode connected to a source of potential and arranged to sustain therebetween a positive column discharge visible endon past the anode, means for modulating the potential diiTerence and the discharge current, a control electrode located axially intermediate said cathode and anode and closely adjacent the discharge path between said cathode and anode and having a substantial area in operative relation with said positive column discharge sufficient to modify said discharge so that the intensity of the radiation from the discharge is appreciably disproportional to the current input to the lamp.

8. A gaseous electric discharge lamp comprising a sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, a cathode and an anode connected to a source of potential and arranged to sustain therebetween a positive column discharge visible end-on past the anode, means for modulating the potential difference and the discharge current, a control electrode spaced axially intermediate said cathode and anode and closely. adjacent thedischarge path between said cathode and anode and having a substantial area in op,- erative relationship .with said positive column discharge so that an appreciable portion of said discharge may be-diverted .from said anode in accordance with the potential of said control electrode, and means for impressing on said control electrode a potential which is positive relative to that portion of said discharge in proximity to said electrode so that, due to diversion of current from the main discharge, the intensity of radiation from the discharge varies in an appreciably greater proportion than the current input to the lamp.

9. A gaseous electric discharge lamp comprising a sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, a cathode and an anode connected to a source of potential and arranged to sustain therebetween a positive column discharge visible end-on past the anode, means for modulating the potential difference and the discharge current, a control electrode located axially intermediate said cathode and anode and closely adjacent the discharge path between said cathode and anode, and means to connect said-control electrode in parallel with said anode through a resistance to bias it to a potential substantially more positive than that portion of the discharge in proximity to said electrode so that, due to diversion of current from the main discharge, the intensity of radiation from the discharge varies in an appreciably greater proportion than the current input to the lamp.

10. A gaseous electric discharge lamp comprising asealed envelope containing an ionlzable medium, a cathode and an anode connected to a source ofpotential and arranged to sustain therebetween a positive column discharge visible end-on past the anode, means for, modulating the potential difference and the discharge current, a control electrode located axially intermediate said cathode and anode and closely adjacent the discharge path betweensaid cathode and anode, and means to connect said control electrode in parallel with said anode through a variable resistance to bias it to a potential substantially more positive than that portion of said discharge in proximity to said electrode so that, due to diversion of current from the main discharge, the intensity of radiation from the discharge varies in an appreciably greater proportion than the current input to the lamp.

EUGENE LEMMERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

